Korean Job Discussion Forums

Bondrock · Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Location: ^_^

A few years ago there was an upstart group that broke away from Dave's and at the time it certainly appeared that the moderators here were actively trying to eliminate any links to that new forum. Maybe at the time, it seemed like a real threat to the business end of this forum. And we cannot fault anyone for trying to protect their revenue stream.

But, these days Dave's ESL is not getting as many users and posters as in the past. This is not because of some rival ESL forum. It is because the internet itself is changing so rapidly. Sites like redditt, google plus, facebook and a host of others are competing for the users and the potential hits that create advertising revenue.

I think Dave's ESl has actually fared pretty well over the years. Some of the problems here, such as not being able to post photos and videos, and avatars not being granted without permission are all because of one former poster who had a vendetta against this site and kept posting porn and gross photos until the owners had no choice but to restrict everyone.

Are the mods here always fair? They are humans and humans sometimes act out of selfish needs. So, no, they are not always fair.

Is Dave doing the best he can for the ESL community? Moot point... this is a site to generate income through job postings. Still, everyone who knows Mr. Sperling has always said he is a nice guy who contributed a great deal as a teacher and was generous in sharing his ideas and teaching philosophy.

Another site similar to this one will never succeed. This site itself, and anything resembling it is, going the way of the Dodo as the needs and wants of the online community are continually changing and adapting to new technologies and trends and fads.

I hope Dave's will be around for a long time. It has served the community well. But, the fact is, the forums portion is already on the decline. If Gorf starts a forum exactly like this one, but with photos and videos and so on, he will be lucky to attract a dozen members. This site already has thousands.

Ginormousaurus · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit

Great post, Bondrock! Dave's was a risky place during that guy's (Kevin?) reign of terror. I saw something that I have never been able to un-see.

byrddogs · Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Location: Shanghai

Ginormousaurus · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit

Bondrock · Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Location: ^_^

Steelrails · Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Location: Earth, Solar System

Maybe something like SBNation websites with user posted "articles", somehow combined with a forum.

goreality · Joined: 09 Jul 2009

Admin is safe but every 100 days a general user vote for a mod to be downgraded and a general user to be upgraded. Keep them on their toes.

hiamnotcool · Joined: 06 Feb 2012

Get some Admin that have no connection to Korea whatsoever. Some guys that have never been here and never plan to come here. Just give them the TOS and let them enforce the rules like a bunch of robots.

Honestly, I like another forum that is out there and when I really want info I go there. I think between that forum and Dave's you are going to have a hard time coming up with something that can beat both of them. I come here for the banter. As long as you don't take Dave's too seriously it's a good place to kill time.

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

Here's how I see it

You've got Daves and waygook for general Korean ESL. You've got Geoju and AFEK for F visa holders. And you've got expathell for ranting.

Am I missing any?

I think it's great that ya want to start up something new, man. Variety is good, IMO. I'm just struggling to think of a unique angle you could use to be a bigger draw (than new platforms like FB groups).

byrddogs · Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Location: Shanghai

Steelrails · Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Location: Earth, Solar System

eslcafe for updates by Captain Porridge on Mannam and other Korean cults- quite the fun read. The Mature content forums are a fun read.

I only post on Dave's. I'll occasionally use waygook for materials. But eslcafe is certainly a smile fest.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 10:20 pm Post subject:

Gorf · Joined: 25 Jun 2011

I definitely think the voting thing is important. People expect to have a choice these days when going online. We're living in post-reddit times. Despite its reputation as a snarky place, the internet is filled with a loud but small minority of users who want to spoil everything for others. Still, the majority of Dave's users and users of other websites seem like normal people.

Another thing I want is for the people involved in admin/mod positions to offer their advice on how to build the site, such as functionality, sub forums and design.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 11:00 pm Post subject: